Big Data, your FBI

Do you agree that Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) is the culprit for consumers losing privacy online? But it does help create a better and more efficient lives for us don't they?

As more people and devices are connected via the Internet, streams of data are collected at high velocity everyday. We as consumers leaves digital footprint as we surf the internet with our devices. Big companies such as Facebook, Google and Telecommunication companies leverage on big data collected from users, to extract new insights and create new values. That is why big data are known as our very own FBI who tracks our online activities and know us better than anyone else!

Stalking and Investigating your digital footprint

Brief Overview of Big Data

Internet of Things (IoT) as defined by McKinsey, is the "Linking of Machinery, Equipment, and other physical assets with networked sensors and actuators to capture data and manage performance, enabling machines to collaborate and even act on new information independently". In short, IoT is a system of smart gadgets that uses technology and sensors to record and transmit data.

Benefits of Big Data & IoT

Automation - "Smart" of everything

As technology continues to evolve, everything becomes "Smarter". Innovations such as "Smart Home" and " Smart City" benefits consumers the most. Smart Homes allows consumers to control their homes from far with a touch of their fingers and Smart City leverage on technology to serve people better.

To better understand complex concepts like Smart Home and Smart City, I have put up two short videos that fully explains what they are and how they benefits consumers.

Smart Homes of the Future

Smart City

Isn't it cool to be living in a Smart City & Home?

On top of that we have Wearable Devices such as Fitness Trackers that allow us to monitor our health, lifestyles and activities with minimal effort. They measure stresses, heartbeats, total number of footsteps etc. Such devices alert users to move and exercise if they detected that they have not been moving much.

Fitbit

Problems of Big Data & IoT

Privacy

Blindly clicking "Allow" on privacy policies or allowing companies to use cookies, we are basically giving companies around the world permission to track us everywhere we go on the Internet. According to a study, "90% of participants are very concerned about Internet Privacy". However, participants do very little to protect their information online. Reasons because they feel powerless at how big companies like Facebook and Google uses their information.

Ever wonder how Facebook pop-ups advertisements often relates to what you have been searching online, at the advertisement sections on the right? Have you ever once felt like "Holy, how do they know I have been searching about accommodation in Korea?" Scary isn't it?

If you ever see pornography or sexual related advertisements around your Social Media accounts, putting aside unintentional virus from normal websites, everyone would have know what you've been watching recently!

EXPOSED

What have you been watching?

In Conclusion, ever-growing technology leads to the expansions of Internet of Things. More big data will be collected for marketers to know more about their target audiences. Hence, marketers should come out with preventive measures to help safeguard the information consumers trusted them with instead of letting consumers rely on themselves. Consumers on the other hand should be choosy of what information they are sharing online and avoid allowing cookies to protect their own privacy.